cell phones in Ireland
Jan 30th, 2007, 07:42 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
cell phones in Ireland
Will our cell phones from the US work in Ireland? W e are going to be driving in the car quite a bit and it would be nice to have a phone to contact B& Bs etc.
Jan 31st, 2007, 12:50 AM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This question comes up quite a bit. You can use the seach box above, type in Cell Phones, click on the general interest and quite a few threads will pop up.
xyz123 is a regular poster here and has answered MANY, MANY questions about cell phone. (betting by this point that the info is now stores in a document file for easy cut and paste).
I have included a link to a long run thread that you may find helpful. xyz123 has some posted replies and if you click on xyz's screen name you will be able to scroll through all the past posts- you will find quite a few about cell phones!
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...z123&fid=2
I will be trying the cell phone in Ireland for the 1st time myself in a few months. After much reading of the above mentioned threads I think I have it...
We have quad band phones with Cingular (they have removable sim chips)we plan to unlock the phone from just Cingular use, pop out the sim chip and get one in Ireland to pop in. When we buy the chip we will also purchase prepaid time.
We plan to use the phone mostly to call ahead to the next B&B, confirm tours, emergency and a rare call or two to the states. When we are on our way home, we'll just put the original sim chip back in and we're set.
Good luck- it is a bit confusing to learn!
Dawn
xyz123 is a regular poster here and has answered MANY, MANY questions about cell phone. (betting by this point that the info is now stores in a document file for easy cut and paste).
I have included a link to a long run thread that you may find helpful. xyz123 has some posted replies and if you click on xyz's screen name you will be able to scroll through all the past posts- you will find quite a few about cell phones!
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...z123&fid=2
I will be trying the cell phone in Ireland for the 1st time myself in a few months. After much reading of the above mentioned threads I think I have it...
We have quad band phones with Cingular (they have removable sim chips)we plan to unlock the phone from just Cingular use, pop out the sim chip and get one in Ireland to pop in. When we buy the chip we will also purchase prepaid time.
We plan to use the phone mostly to call ahead to the next B&B, confirm tours, emergency and a rare call or two to the states. When we are on our way home, we'll just put the original sim chip back in and we're set.
Good luck- it is a bit confusing to learn!
Dawn
Jan 31st, 2007, 03:49 PM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They use a different Protocol over there so you'll probably need a 4-band 'WorldPhone;' not just a SIM card but one that uses the proper Frequency. My T-Mobile SDA works on 800, 900, 1800 and 1900 megahertz but I definitely will need to buy a (Vodaphone?) SIM for it to work in the Irish Republic.
I usually just buy an Eircom Phone card with an I/C Chip on thwe card (i.e., no 800-number to call; just insert the card in an Eircom Phone and dial your number). I believe they are sold in 7-Euro and 13-Euro denominations.
I usually just buy an Eircom Phone card with an I/C Chip on thwe card (i.e., no 800-number to call; just insert the card in an Eircom Phone and dial your number). I believe they are sold in 7-Euro and 13-Euro denominations.
Feb 1st, 2007, 08:16 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There was a recent thread on this subject, and this was my response to it:
The code words are GSM, unlocked, and triband. I just bought a new Motorola V180 for about 50 dollars on Bay - it's an older model, but has had good reviews for use in Ireland in past threads. Then you get a sim card upon arriving at the airport for whatever country you are visiting. If you visit another country another time, just change cards.
The code words are GSM, unlocked, and triband. I just bought a new Motorola V180 for about 50 dollars on Bay - it's an older model, but has had good reviews for use in Ireland in past threads. Then you get a sim card upon arriving at the airport for whatever country you are visiting. If you visit another country another time, just change cards.
Feb 1st, 2007, 08:23 AM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These days, you need to be careful if it's a "tri-band" phone. Quad-band will definitely be fine, but be careful with tri-band.
To guarantee reception with most GSM carriers outside N. America, you need both the 900 and 1800 band. "Traditional" tri-band phones are 900/1800/1900. However, with the 850MHz band also used by Cingular here in the US, you may find "tri-band" phone that's 850/1800/1900 or 850/900/1900. You don't want one of those for use internationally.
So, "quad-band", or make sure it has both 900 and 1800 if you're getting a "tri-band". Dual-bands with just 900/1800 are also fine, if you don't plan to use it in N. America.
To guarantee reception with most GSM carriers outside N. America, you need both the 900 and 1800 band. "Traditional" tri-band phones are 900/1800/1900. However, with the 850MHz band also used by Cingular here in the US, you may find "tri-band" phone that's 850/1800/1900 or 850/900/1900. You don't want one of those for use internationally.
So, "quad-band", or make sure it has both 900 and 1800 if you're getting a "tri-band". Dual-bands with just 900/1800 are also fine, if you don't plan to use it in N. America.
